2016 Acoustic Tour

Saw Joe last night in Easton, Pa.  We were disappointed as well like you mutantofthemonster.  Nothing special.  The line up introducing new instruments and singers doing a few of the old songs.... boring..done that.  The blues and rock is Joe's best when I get goosebumps from "Just Got Paid".  Vienna Acoustic was better.  Hoping for at least some good new acoustic songs...not too much of the bluegrass stuff.  Seems like Joe needs a picker-upper or some spice in his life or some new song writers.  The costumes the singers wore were distracting.  The reason we like Joe is because he dresses his guitar with his magnificent notes/beats while Joe dresses in a plain suit out of respect for the guitar.  The attention is drawn to the guitar and how he plays.  The singers costumes did nothing at all in the room for improvements.  No doubt they sing well and the cello was good BUT this?   Many people left before his encore as we did too.   We will keep an open mind for sure next week when we go to Carnegie Hall and then Atlantic City.

I was at the Maine show this weekend. Joe was on point both in playing and in voice. When I saw the Asian girl on the Cello I really did not think I was going to like it, but she blew me away. I was third row so got to see her play up close and play that Cello like a electric guitar. The other musicians were refreshing, but I really did not get the backup singers or the costumes (Polynesian and Middle Eastern garb, yet they were all from Australia??). The encore song was unexpected (The Rose) and I was really hoping for the traditional two song encore. Also, the show was shorter than any I had been to yet, I was back to the hotel before 10pm. I was glad I had the opportunity to see the show, but not sure I understand all Joe's choices. Hope the recording from Carnegie Hall will be a bit longer.
Oh, and no Joe show should be without Sloe Gin!

When we were talking with Joe at the Rock Candy shows before this tour started he mentioned something about Kevin's idea of world music. I think it's not specifically "world music" like some people think but more how the blues appeals to those all around the world. The costumes represent different parts of the world, plus the band is made up of people from all over the world. The singers are from Australia, Tina, the cellist, is originally from Shanghai, the percussionist is from Egypt, Anton is originally from South Africa. So even though the singers are not from the countries their outfits suggest, the costumes represent this world theme.